Troop 131,
We will have an in-person Troop meeting Monday at 7:00 at Immanuel Church on the Hill. Note, we are in summer hours, so we are starting ½ hour earlier. This will give us more daylight for outdoor activities.
There will not be a Board of Review (BoR) on Monday as to my knowledge there are not any scouts who need one.
I will not be in attendance; however, Mr. Jahns will be there, and Aidan Bolte will be running the meeting. If you were not able to attend last week, then this is a good week to pick up your badges from Summer Camp.
ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR- Rescheduled
We had 9 scouts and 5 adults scheduled for the tour on Saturday, however, I was notified Friday morning that I was in close contact in my office on Wednesday morning with a person who subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.
I am feeling fine, so far, however, our office policies prohibit me going to the office for 5 days and as a result I had to cancel the walking tour. I was really looking forward to it but have rescheduled it for Saturday August 20th and the weekend before the start of school.
We will send a new sign-up sheet soon.
ALEX HECKEL EAGLE PROJECT
Alexander Heckel is working on his Eagle project, and he needs volunteers! See email below from him. Please consider signing up to help him.
Come Help Restore the Chinquapin Trail!
My Eagle Scout project will be to restore a large portion of the Chinquapin Park Trail by the swimming pool next to Alexandria City High School. The project will entertain removing rotten trail timbers with rebar, installing new ones, and mulching. I am looking for volunteers for August 6th, August 7th, August 13th, and August 14th from the hours of 9:00-3:30. Lunch will be provided.
SignupGenius link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f0c49abac2ba2fd0-alexander. Just select which days and hours work best for you! I hope you can come help restore a well loved and well used Alexandria trail with me.
Thanks,
Alexander Heckel
HORSEBACK RIDING TRIP
See message below from Mr. Mulvaney, our activity coordinator. Please don’t wait to sign up as we need to get an accurate head count!
I may be a little biased, since my Chinese surname is 马 which means Horse, but we are totally looking forward to this (rescheduled) trip.
12-14 August, Horseback Riding at Red Gate Farm Sign up to ride horses!
We want to get as much of the Troop out to this one as possible, so we are going to cover much of the cost of the trip. With the T-131 discount, it will just be $40 per Scout for all of the instruction and all of the riding necessary to complete the Horsemanship Merit Badge.
Remember- You Can Use Scout Accounts to pay for this. Check with the Treasurer for your Scout’s current balance. All you have to do is sign up!!!
BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP!!! Because we are using a company to provide horses and instructors, this trip there are no last-minute changes. We want everyone available to go, it’ll be a great time. So sign up BEFORE August 2nd.
All you have to do is sign up!!!
The boys need to wear long pants and sturdy shoes with a heel!
And of course, the forms:
Brendan Mulvaney
MISSING FIRST AID KIT
Our troop first aid kit is still missing. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the kit, please let me know or return on Monday. I took my personal one on the camping trip this weekend, however, the troop is required to have one at all outings.
SHED REORGANIZATION
Seth Bolte has agreed to head up the Shed Reorganization. Thank you, Mr. Bolte! More information to come on that in the coming weeks.
MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS
We always need help in both the required and elective badges. I attached to this email the current list of Merit Badge Counselors for the troop.
Please let Mr. Jahns and I know if you have any interest in becoming a merit badge counselor for any of the badges listed.
ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Parents, we need your help! It takes a lot to keep this troop together and active. Even if you don’t have time to be in one of the more active positions, there some one-off tasks. Please consider volunteering to one of the activities below:
We need help with:
Health Forms
o We need an audit of the troop health forms and reconcile with our current roster.
o The forms need to be updated every year.
o We need to a volunteer to review the box and contact parents if we need an updated form.
We also need adult volunteers:
· To sit on the committee and be available for Board of Reviews
· Additional ASM’s to go on camping trips
· High Adventure and Jamboree Planning- we are in the beginning stages of putting together a long-range high adventure/jamboree calendar for next two years and for the “big trips”. Nothing is set in stone right now, but these trips take a long time to plan, and fund raise and below is what we are considering. We need a volunteer to help explore interest, logistics and ultimately to help with the planning.
o Spring Break 2023 or Spring Break 2024- Sea Base
o July 19-28, 2023- National Jamboree- Summit Bechtel Reserve
o August 1-12, 2023- World Jamboree – South Korea
o Philmont- Summer 2024
SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead
Monday, July 18th – Troop Meeting – 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday, July 25th – Troop Meeting – 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday July 30th –Tour (Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge)
Monday, August 1st – Troop Meeting- 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Sat/Sun, Aug. 6&7- Alex Heckel Eagle Project – Part 1
Monday, August 8th – Troop Meeting (PLC)– 7:00 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Friday August 12th 14th – Horseback Riding- Red Gate Farm
Sat/Sun, Aug. 13&14- Alex Heckel Eagle Project – Part 2
Monday, August 15th – Troop Meeting- 7:00 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Saturday August 20th – Architectural Walking Tour DC (Architectural Merit Badge)
Monday, August 22nd – First Day of School- Troop Meeting- 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill
Monday August 29th – Court of Honor- Family Picnic
Monday, Sept. 5th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday
GENERAL TROOP MEETING INFO:
Bring your Mask and uniform! Bring your Book, Bring a headlamp! Leave your phone in your pocket! and have a good time!
Blue Cards! Did you know that your Scoutmaster can email you a blue card? Just send me Mr. Ramirez an email (scoutmaster@t131.org)! Note that the SCOUT must request the blue card, not the parent!
See you all at the troop meeting.
-MR
